The museum houses a preserved 18-meter-long humpback whale skeleton, excavated from a tomb in Ha Nam province.
It is part of the Institute of Oceanography, which was founded during the French colonial era in 1922.
The collection includes rare, deep-sea specimens collected from the depths of the East Sea.
The facility maintains a research department focused on marine biodiversity and environmental protection.
Some of the preserved specimens in the jars date back to the early 20th century.
The museum is a designated location for studying the evolution and taxonomy of Indo-Pacific marine life.
The Museum of Oceanography, established in 1922, serves as the primary facility for marine research and specimen preservation in Vietnam. Located at the former French colonial Indochina Institute of Oceanography, it houses over 20,000 specimens of more than 4,000 marine and freshwater species. The main building features an extensive collection of preserved marine animals, including a massive skeleton of a humpback whale measuring 18 meters in length. Visitors can explore various exhibition halls dedicated to sea creatures, marine geology, and the history of oceanographic research in the region. The outdoor area includes a series of aquarium tanks displaying live sharks, turtles, and diverse reef fish. The facility is actively managed by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. It functions simultaneously as an educational center and a functional scientific laboratory. The historic architecture of the building reflects early 20th-century French colonial design. It remains one of the largest and oldest marine research institutions in Southeast Asia.
The central courtyard featuring the historic French-colonial architecture and the large whale skeleton exhibit.
Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby harbor area for a complete coastal experience.
Allocate extra time for the indoor museum galleries, as they contain significantly more material than the outdoor aquarium tanks.
Check the signage for specific details on the history of the marine specimens, which are often labeled in multiple languages.
Avoid visiting during national holidays when local student field trips heavily crowd the narrow hallways.
Maintain a quiet volume and do not touch the specimen glass or antique displays.
